JULY 25, 2005

“THE EARLY DEW OF MORNING”
Pastor George Van Alstine

Some of our familiar hymns contain hidden truths we only come to appreciate after years of exposure. At last Sunday evening’s old-fashioned hymn-sing, we sang “tell me the Old, Old Story,” and a line in verse 2 took on meaning for me for the first time:

“Tell me the story often
For I forget so soon;
The early dew of morning
Has passed away at noon.”

They say forgetfulness is something I should expect to experience more often at my age. Of course, in my case this is not true; my memory is as sharp as ever. (Now, where was I?)

Those advanced in years have no monopoly on forgetfulness. Theirs may be the result of diminishing brain capacity, while the forgetfulness of youth comes more from the excitement and allure of life’s adventures and passions, and the forgetfulness of the middle years comes from the pressures of life and the cares of this world.

The line that struck me in a new way Sunday night was this very visual metaphor:

“The early dew of morning
Has passed away at noon.”

Of course it has. Dew is a daily, morning phenomenon. It is not designed to last more than a few hours. And, like dew, our exposure to God through his Word and prayer is provided as an immediate, daily refreshment to our souls. It can’t be bottled for later use. It must be enjoyed when it falls from heaven.

This explains to me why it is important at every stage of life to hear the old, old story over and over again. It is why we need the regularity of daily devotions, frequent spontaneous prayer, believing friendships and weekly church attendance. Spiritual dew keeps falling, and we need to keep lapping it up.

Some Christians believe they have outgrown the old, old story—that they have moved on to more advanced thinking and more mature experiences. Then they wonder why they always feel so parched and dry. It’s high noon in their lives and the dew has long ago dried up.

It’s never too late to return to the old, old story, where the dew of God’s grace can fall fresh on the driest, dustiest, stalest old believer. You’re overdue to do dew!